Our Michigan birth injury lawyers handle cases involving Group B streptococcus.  This is a bacterial infection that can cause significant injury and damage to a newborn.  There are occasions in which this infection should have diagnosed and treated earlier and harm to the newborn could have been prevented.  In those circumstances, there may be a child birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) – Fact File

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a kind of bacterial infection found in pregnant woman’s rectum or vagina. The bacteria commonly occurs in the lower intestine or vagina of 15-40% of all healthy women.

Women who are tested positive for Group B streptococcus (GBS) are called colonized. During delivery, GBS can be passed to the newborn. In the United States, GBS affects 1 in every 2,000 newborns. However, it is not necessary for every baby born to a mother who is GBS positive to become ill.

While Group B streptococcus (GBS) is quite rare in pregnant women, it can have severe consequences. For this reason, physicians commonly test pregnant women for GBS as a routine part of the prenatal care.

Diagnosis of Group B streptococcus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine screening for vaginal strep B for every pregnant woman. The screening is commonly performed between the thirty-fifth and thirty-seventh week of pregnancy as this is the most significant time to see if the woman carries GBS at the time of delivery.

In order to perform the test, a swab of vagina and rectum is taken to the lab where it is analyzed for GBS presence. Results are normally handed over in 1-2 days.

Positive results of Group B streptococcus

Anyone who tests positive for Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a carrier. It is not necessary for a child to become ill if the mother carries GBS. According to estimates, one of every 100-200 babies will develop symptoms of GBS disease if all their mothers carry GBS. Some symptoms, however, do indicate that you run a greater risk of passing GBS to your baby.

These include:

• Rupture of membrane or labor before 37 weeks
• Rupture of membrane 18  hours prior to delivery
• Fever during labor
• Urinary tract infection during pregnancy due to GBS
• Previous delivery wherein GBS was passed to baby

In any of these cases, your physician would prescribe antibiotics for prevention of passing GBS.

According to CDC estimates, if you carry Group B streptococcus (GBS), but are not at high risk of passing it on, then the chances of having GBS delivered to the baby are:

• 1 in 200 if antibiotics are not consumed
• 1 in 4,000 if antibiotics are consumed

It may affect a child socially, academically, and vocationally throughout childhood and even into adulthood.  The child may require physical therapy, medical procedures, and other services that can be a significant expense over the course of his or her lifetime.  These types of damage requests are included in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed for the condition.

Contact a Michigan Group B streptococcus Malpractice Lawyer

If an infant suffers injuries because a medical condition was not timely diagnosed and treated, it can give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit.  Birth injuries can affect the social, academic and vocational upbringing of the infant. These often require services that amount to a significant expense over a child’s lifetime and are sought as damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

It is essential to contact our office as soon as possible so that we can obtain your child’s complete medical chart to determine whether there was negligence involved in the treatment.  There are strict time delays for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Michigan so it is essential to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to see if your child has valid case.

Our Michigan birth injury lawyers handle cases involving Anoxic Brain injuries. This can be a very serious condition and can affect a child throughout his or her lifetime.  There are occasions in which this injury could have been prevented and this can give rise to a child birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit.

Adequate oxygen is absolutely vital for the brain. However, the brain can receive inadequate oxygen due to many factors. When the oxygen level of the brain is considerably low for more than 4 minutes, brain cells begin to die. After five minutes or so, anoxic brain injury can occur. The same is also referred to as hypoxic-anoxic injury or cerebral hypoxia. This is a life-threatening injury that may cause disabilities and cognitive problems.

There have been incidents where this injury was preventable, and this gives rise to a child birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit. If you believe your newborn is suffering from anoxic brain injury due to a birth injury caused by a professional caregiver, you should contact one of our Michigan birth injury lawyers.

Prognosis and Treatment of Anoxic Brain Injury

It is quite difficult to recover from this brain injury. The kind and amount of damage caused is a critical factor in determining the time for recovery.

There are many phases of treating patients with anoxic brain injury. In the first phase, the doctor attempts to locate the cause of the injury. All efforts are made to restore the normal oxygen supply to the brain.

When the life-threatening injuries are properly treated, the rehabilitation phase begins. A variety of therapies are performed over the child’s lifetime such as:

·         Speech therapy

·         Physical therapy

·         Occupational therapy

·         Recreational therapy

·         Counseling

·         Adaptive equipment training

Contact a Michigan Anoxic Brain Injury Malpractice Lawyer

If an infant suffers an anoxic brain injury because a medical condition was not timely diagnosed and treated, it can give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit.  Anoxic brain injury is a serious medical condition that can affect the social, academic and vocational pursuits of your infant. The treatment of anoxic brain injury can result in significant expense over the period of a lifetime. Such type of damage requests are included in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed for the case of anoxic brain injury.

It is essential to contact our office as soon as possible so that we can obtain your child’s complete medical chart to determine whether there was negligence involved in the treatment.  There are strict time delays for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Michigan so it is essential to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to see if your child has valid case.

Our Michigan birth injury lawyers handle cases involving cerebral palsy injuries.  This can be a very serious condition and can affect a child throughout his or her lifetime.  There are occasions in which this injury could have been prevented and this can give rise to a child birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit.

Cerebral palsy is a condition of the brain that occurs due to a permanent brain injury either before, during or after birth. This condition causes lack of muscle control and mobility. Where cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, however, its effects are known to change with time. The exact cause of this condition is unknown. There is evidence that links the disease to the health history of both the mother and child, and any accidents causing brain injury. Cerebral palsy is mostly diagnosed immediately after birth, but the discovery can even be made at a later stage of childhood.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is the name given to a group of disorders that hinder mobility. This disease is caused by a brain injury before, during or shortly after birth. The brain damage can be result from a variety of conditions such as:

• Infection during pregnancy – toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella severely damage the nervous system of the fetus, resulting in cerebral palsy
• Rh Incompatibility – this can cause jaundice. In this condition, immune system of mother attacks the fetus
• Jaundice – this can result in brain damage
• Oxygen shortage – this can also cause brain damage to the child
• Toxicity – use of drug or alcohol can damage the brain of the fetus
• Stroke – this can occur if mother suffers from coagulation disorders
• Bleeding – bleeding in the brain of the boy after birth can damage the brain
• Kidney/Urinary Tract Infections – can also damage the brain, causing cerebral palsy

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is accompanied with a number of symptoms such as:

• Spasms
• Visual impairment
• Hyperactivity
• Learning disorders
• Seizures
• Cure & Treatment

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. However, a number of therapies are offered for the treatment of this condition. It can be very difficult to live with this condition. Still, it is possible to be successful in coping with cerebral palsy.

Contact a Michigan Cerebral Palsy Malpractice Lawyer

If an infant suffers cerebral palsy due to medical mistakes and negligence, it can give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit.  Cerebral palsy is a serious medical condition that can affect the social, academic and vocational pursuits of your infant. The treatment for cerebral palsy can result in significant expense over the period of a lifetime. Such type of damage requests are included in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed for the case of anoxic brain injury.

It is essential to contact our office as soon as possible so that we can obtain your child’s complete medical chart to determine whether there was negligence involved in the treatment.  There are strict time delays for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Michigan so it is essential to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to see if your child has valid case.

Our Michigan birth injury lawyers handle cases involving hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy injuries.  This can be a very serious condition and can affect a child throughout his or her lifetime.  There are occasions in which this injury could have been prevented and this can give rise to a child birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit.

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a medical condition in which damage is caused to the brain due to lack of both oxygen and blood flow to the brain.

Causes and Consequences of Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)

This medical condition often arises during birth. There are many factors that account for HIE such as uterine rupture, cord around baby’s neck, knot in umbilical cord, breech birth or other difficulties in birth. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can also be caused by stroke, hanging, drowning or any other activity that impedes the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. The irreversible damage can occur due to this condition within minutes.

The damage may also occur in utero. There are instances when the exact cause of HIE in newborns is not determined. Damage caused to the infants can range from very mild to severe. In order to determine the location and severity of the injury, various measures such as EEG, MRI and CAT scans are run.

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can also be caused due to cerebral palsy, dysphagia, mental retardation, cortical vision impairment, hearing impairment, temperature instability, microcephaly, seizures and chronic lung disease. Any child diagnosed with HIE has a bleak chance to live with full abilities. At the same time, every child found with the disabilities is unique in strengths and needs.

Treatment for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Patients

There is no treatment for HIE. Various therapies aid in oral muscle development, muscle tone and control, and vision. Traditional therapies are also performed. These include:

• Physical therapy, used for gross motor control
• Occupational therapy, used for small muscle control
• Speech and language therapy

Oral stimulation is another form of therapy that is performed by the SLT or the OT, depending on their qualifications.

There are some alternative therapies that are also used. However, the benefits of these therapies are still not proven. A very limited research exists on the internet or elsewhere about Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. As this condition is an underlying cause for so many other disabilities, it makes it quite difficult to determine the exact cause, and consequently the specialist who would treat the patient best. This makes it difficult for parents to properly address all the needs of their suffering infant.

Contact a Michigan Birth Injury Malpractice Lawyer

If an infant suffers hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy  because a medical condition was not timely diagnosed and treated, it can give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit.  Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy  is a serious medical condition that can affect the social, academic and vocational pursuits of your infant. The treatment of this type of brain injury can result in significant expense over the period of a lifetime. Such type of damage requests are included in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed for the case of anoxic brain injury.

It is essential to contact our office as soon as possible so that we can obtain your child’s complete medical chart to determine whether there was negligence involved in the treatment.  There are strict time delays for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Michigan so it is essential to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to see if your child has valid case.

A jury recently awarded a 25 year old woman with cerebral palsy a verdict of $43 million dollars against the hospital where she was born.  The jury found that the negligence of the hospital caused her cerebral palsy.  She is confined to a wheelchair and has very limited communication abilities.  She is unable to live independently.

The amount is the total amount of the award into the future and not the present value of the judgment.  The award included compensation for home health care expenses, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost earnings.  The suit alleged that the woman suffered her brain injuries as a result of lack of oxygen and other negligent care at the time of her birth.